Favourite-backers were cheering at Echuca on Monday when Bendigo trainer Matthew Enright produced Mickio to win the 2100-metre benchmark 56.
Many pundits had him as their best bet of the day and he was heavily backed on the Victorian official prices from $2.30 into $1.90 on the day. 
It was a big drop in grade after his placing in the Murtoa Cup last start, although that was offset by rising in weight from 54kg to 62.5kg. 
The five-year-old by Tosen Stardom covered extra ground from a wide barrier draw, but rider Brad Rawiller didn’t panic and the horse was able to show his grit and class in the concluding stages. 
Now on to his fourth trainer, Mickio is proving to be a bargain buy for Enright. He was picked up for $7000 online and now has two wins, two placings and a fourth from five starts for the stable, earning $40,400. 
“It wasn’t ideal during the run, but he toughed it out,” Enright said.
“There’s a beautiful race for him on Bendigo Cup day.”
That race is the 2400-metre benchmark 66 at that meeting next Wednesday and Mickio is sure to be popular among the local punters on course. 
Fieldelo ready to go
Reigning Bendigo horse of the year Fieldelo will make her seasonal debut on Friday night at The Valley. 
Trainer Toby Lake has the four-year-old ready to go off the back of a nice jumpout win at Seymour and Friday night’s 955-metre contest at benchmark 74 level looks to be an ideal kickoff point. 
Fieldelo has won at both previous first-up runs and Lake will be hoping for another positive showing.
The lightly raced mare will be looking to build on a promising three-year-old season that culmintaed in a last-start second in Listed grade. Her winter form looks to have held up strongly, with Bridal Waltz and She’s An Artist running well since. 
Fieldelo has drawn barrier eight, with Rhys McLeod booked for the ride.